doctor’s orders

With temperatures hitting their yearly high, it’s important to be sun-smart, now more than ever. “While sunlight sustains life on earth, the sun’s ultraviolet rays can be hazardous,” says Dr Nusrat Banka, specialist dermatologist at Mediclinic Welcare Hospital (mediclinic. ae). “UV radiation causes three major forms of skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and cutaneous malignant melanoma) as well as causing premature skin ageing. Use of sunscreen is essential for defence against skin cancers and photo ageing. Year-round sun protection will significantly reduce the cumulative exposure to sunlight in an individual’s life time.”